Category Archives: Biceps

Mistakes

May 5, 2013 Kim 25 Comments

For today’s 43 I actually worked my legs a little! I used this band:

I put the band on my right foot and held the other end with my right hand and did a side leg abduction while doing a cross-body curl.

[youtuber youtube=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gOsBVPaTbBA’]

It wasn’t super pretty (and I had to tap my toe after every rep to keep my balance) but at least I was able to get a little bit of leg action!! And, you know, this was the kind of 43 that had to be repeated on the other leg to keep things semi-balanced!!!

Yesterday I was a little short with both of the boys at different points during the day and later I felt really bad about it – they hadn’t done anything wrong – I just didn’t have any patience. I apologized and since they understood, I tried to forget about it but sometimes it is hard to let go of things.

We all make mistakes – I probably make at least 10-100 every day!!! Some are small and don’t affect any one but myself and others are bigger.

When Hunter was younger (1st and 2nd grade), he really struggled with making mistakes. He wanted to do things exactly right the first time and didn’t want to even attempt things that he felt like he might mess up on. I think this is something that many adults (like me) struggle with constantly.

It took time but eventually he has learned that mistakes are a very natural part of life and we all make them – and make them often. He finally realized that he could actually make a mistake, learn from it and move on.

I think that fear of making a mistake (or failing) often holds us back from really achieving greatness. It is hard to put yourself out there and risk being wrong or feeling/looking stupid. But the reward can be so great when you succeed!!

When you really think about it, life would be boring without mistakes. If we always got things right the first time – YUCK – what would be the point of trying new things?!

When I look back at my life so far, I realize that some of the bigger mistakes I made could have had far worse consequences than they did. (Let’s just say I used poor judgement for an entire semester of grad school!) Thankfully, I was able to learn from my many mistakes and move on!I think that some lessons have to be learned the hard way for all of us.Even though I make more mistakes than I would like to (in every aspect of my life), I will just keep on trying (and hopefully learning)!

I will keep asking forgiveness when necessary and also keep trying to forgive myself (much harder!!). I know that today (and tomorrow and the next day….) I will never be perfect. But that’s OK!!I think one of the best things that my boys (all of us, for that matter!) can learn is it is OK to fail because it shows that you were trying!!!

Do you beat yourself up over little mistakes or just shake it off and keep trying?

Happy Sunday and Happy Cinco de Mayo!!!

Kim

Back, Biceps, Circuit, Fitness, Shoulders, Triceps

Saturday Morning Circuit

May 4, 2013 Kim 2 Comments

Today for my 43 I did a circuit for my arms. All I can say is OUCH!!!

[youtuber youtube=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V1NzTzWvH1A’]

(The demo is actually my last 3 – I had to go wake Hunter to come record me! Chris has drill this weekend and Jordan stayed with a friend last night.)

I did the first 13 with 8 pound dumbbells then I dropped down to 5 pound dumbbells for the next 30!! This was a great workout for my entire upper body and exactly the kind of 43 I needed today!!

Obviously, you don’t have to do 43 reps of the circuit (unless you really want to!!) but I promise you if you do even 5 or 10 you will feel this!! Try it, I know you want to!!!

Happy Saturday!!

Kim

Biceps, Fitness

How do you get Yourself out of a Funk?

May 2, 2013 Kim 26 Comments

The good news? I did another 43 today!! (I’m counting that as good news because at least I’m still on course to meet my goal for the year!)

So, today I did a new (to me) variation of a bicep curl – a V-curl. This one was cool because it actually worked my shoulders a bit, too!

I started in a standard position for a bicep curl (arms at side, palms facing out) then instead of curling straight up, I did an arc motion to bring my hands up to my shoulders (palms still facing out).

[youtuber youtube=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UhBPQV4oyAs’]

(overlook the slight lean, I can’t put much weight on my right leg so I’m a little off-balance!)

I tried to keep the motion slow and controlled. I had to use lighter weights than I would for a standard curl (12 pound DBs today). Overall, I liked this 43.

I’m in a MAJOR FUNK!! Nothing a good hard run won’t fix!! OH – wait – that’s part of my problem – I can barely walk today much less run!

Plus – it’s May 2 and the temp has dropped from 39 to 34 in the last 2 hours. Currently I’m watching some of that awful white stuff mixed in with sleet fall from the sky – NOT COOL!!!

So, I’m going to get some soup going in the crock pot and then probably spend the day with my legs up watching mindless reality TV!!! (and maybe eating chocolate!!!)

Happy Thursday – hopefully no funks for you!!

Kim

Biceps, Fitness, Shoulders

Progress and Pictures

April 27, 2013 Kim 21 Comments

I did another arm move for today’s 43. I held 5 pound dumbbells and did a karate style punch.

I usually like to get in plie position to do these punches but right now that is not really an option so I just tucked my hips and put a slight bend in my knees.

For the move – I just alternated punches in a nice steady manner. A right punch and left punch made 1 rep.

Another fairly simple 43 but I’m trying to let myself off the hook – I still want to meet my goal for the year by completing a 43 every day and if it means a few easier moves then I guess that is how it has to be.

Yesterday afternoon I had a follow up appointment with my DR. She unwrapped the many layers on my legs and said everything looked good. My legs look worse now than before surgery – bruised, swollen, bulgey and overall, a mess.I took a couple of pictures while my legs were unwrapped but decided not to post them (just the one above) because I don’t want to gross anyone out with the dried blood and stuff. You can see some of the marks that the DR made the morning of surgery though.

This morning I finally got to take a shower!!! Such a small thing but it goes a long way to helping me feel human again!!! Before Chris rewrapped my legs, I took a couple of pictures:

You can see some of the little cuts (all over my legs) and the swelling around my ankle and calf. All of the purple spider veins will be treated in a couple of months (after this stuff heals).

left leg - knee area — left leg – knee area

You can see a little of the bruising behind my knee here (and again you can see the swelling in my legs).

freshly wrapped and propped up — freshly wrapped and propped

I’m still spending more time sitting around (with my legs elevated) then anything else. I thought I would at least be able to do more walking by today. Yesterday the DR said probably another week – WHAT?!! I’m thinking maybe Monday or Tuesday at the latest!!!

What do you do when you have to spend time just sitting around? Do you get totally stir crazy?

Happy Saturday!!

Kim

Biceps, Cardio, Core, Fitness, Shoulders

Curveballs

April 12, 2013 Kim 30 Comments

Today’s 43 has a super special video. I was driving for 8.5+ hours yesterday and I called home and asked Chris and the boys to make the video for me. (I told them the move I had in mind – they did the work.) Thanks to Jordan for the awesome video (complete with intro and credits!!)!!!

The move – a bicep curl to a shoulder press – reverse the move then drop down and jump back to plank (hold) – jump in and stand = 1 rep x 43!! (I used 10 pound dumbbells)

[youtuber youtube=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kMdX7ZrghbE’]

(Jordan dropped the weights when he jumped back but I actually held onto them the whole time.)

Here is the hotel fitness center:

There were also 2 treadmills but a man was on one and I figured he didn’t want some creepy girl taking his picture!!

I started by walking a mile to warm-up before my 43. Sweat was dripping off me during this 43 – good thing the fitness center wasn’t packed! Then I came back up to my room (4 flights of stairs – bonus!!) for the rest of my workout.

I did Les Mills Combat – Combat 45. I hope the people in the room below me weren’t still trying to sleep since there was quite a bit of plyo jumping!!

Sometimes life throws a curveball at you and you have to learn how to time your swing to hit it.

Yesterday morning (while I was doing my timed wall-sit), my twin brother (Tim) called me and told me our dad was in the hospital. He didn’t have many details at the time but a bit later he called me back with more info. My dad had a massive heart attack, had surgery yesterday morning and was in the ICU. I felt like I needed to make a trip to Texas because I don’t want him to be in the hospital alone!!! (scary being alone in a hospital!)

A few plans (hotel reservations, stuff for Chris & boys….), packing and I was on the road by 1:15 for a long drive. Poor planning since I hit Oklahoma City at high traffic time:

This is a drive that I have made more times than I can count and it never really changes!

look - a small hill! — look – a small hill!

It is hard to take pictures while driving (and probably not very safe) in case you were wondering. I tried to get the Welcome to Texas sign but there was another sign in front of it (RUDE!!) and I was zipping along and …. no sign but I made it safely!!!

So, the next few days will be crazy but it’s important – it’s my DAD, after all!! And, I will get to see my 98 year-old grandpa while I’m here!!

Happy Friday! Last day for to enter the giveaway for this necklace:I will announce the winner this weekend!!!